Hydropneumatic pump.



a s; H. HARRIS.

HYDROPNEUMATIC PUMP.

APFLICA'TION FILED lUNE 23, 1914.

Patented July 27, 1915.

'3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wlfvfssgs l's f A THIIEYS mu.. L n0h a H T 2 M W y .om

m I W a 000x IIIIIIH BENJAMIN S. H. HARRIS, OF GREENVILL, SOUTH CAROLINA.

HYDROPNEUMATIC PUMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN resident of Greenville, in the county of Greenville and State of South Carolina,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hydropneumatic Pumps, of which the following is a., specification. p

My invention is an improvement in hydropneumatic pumps, and has for its object to x provide a device of thepcharacter specilied,

'of double construction and adapted .to be arranged within a well or other source of supply, and having two' pump cylinders or easings' for containing the water and from whichl the water is intended to be driven to the place of utilization by fluid under pressure, and whereinlx check controlled inlet valves are provided for admitting the water to the cylinders, and wherein fluid controlled mechanism is provided, controlled by the height of the water in the-cylinders for cutting off each cylinder` from the source of pressure when it is nearly exhausted, and for connecting the other cylinder to the. said source.

In the drawings z-Figure 1 is a vertical section through the improved pump, Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig-1, Fig. 3 isan enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the -arrows adjacent to the line, Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view, and Fig. 5 is a section I on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In the present embodiment of the invention, a casi-ng is provided, consisting of substantiall,Y cylindrical receptacles 1 and l, sated on a common base 2. The base is provided with a marginal flange 3, and the eas'- ings 1 and 1a have flanges ft at their bottoms, resting upon the fianges 3 and secured thereto by means of bolts and nuts 5. Packing rings or gaskets 5 are arranged between the flanges for making a fluid tight joint, and the base is chambered or recessed on its upper facev to form three compartments, namely, a central compartment 7 and lateral compartments S and 8, adjacent to the casings l and l, respectively.

The delivery pipe 9 extends upwardly trom the base from the compartment 7 opening through a brace plate 10, which is arranged above the double casing 1-1, and

the upper nend of the pipe 9 is threaded intoI a coupling 11, at approximately the center of the said plate. At each end the plate 10 S. H. Ham. nis, a citizen of the United States, and a,

is provided fyvlitl openings which register with internally threaded nipples 12 and 12a, 1n 4the casings 'and l", and unions 13 are passed through/the openings of the plate and threaded into the nipples, for permitting the casing'sections 1--13L to be connect- Y ed with vmechanism to be -later described.

Each .union has an annular rib fitting against the upper face of the plate to hold 1t in place.

" Thecompartment ment, and the delivery pipe 9 has its lower 4end threaded' into an opening in the top ot' the compartment. Valve casings 14 and 14?, respectively, are threaded into other open# ingsin the top of this compartment, the said casings being in the sections 1 and 1a, respectively, of the double casing. Valve seats 15 and 15a are provided between each compartment 8 and 8, and the adjacent 7 lis a closed compart- ,f

casing sections 1 and ll, and each seat is provided with three Studs 16, extending up-` wardly around the seat in spaced relation. A plate. 17 is connected with. the studs by means of screws 18, passing through registering openings inthe plate and engaging threaded openings in thestuds.

It will be noted .that the valve vseats v15 and 15a are elevated above't` e general level of the top of the base,.and the studs 16 areV for guiding the movement, of a valve 19, coperatingwith the seat! The plate 17 limits the' upward movement of the valve, the top of the valve engaging the under face of the plate. Each valve 19 is provided withV a central'depending threaded stem 20, and av i washer or nut 21 is threaded on to each stein. tor holding a. packing 22 againstthe under face of the valve.l The packing is adapted to engage the seat when the valve is seated.

1t will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 2, that each of the platesr 17 has radial i lugs 23, through which the screws 18 are passed. Each of the valve casings 14 and 100 14a has a laterally otl'set portion 24 and 24, respectively, `at its upper end, and each of the said offset portions has a valve seat or port :25 in its under surface. A.` disk valve 26 cooperates with each seat, and each valve 105 is provided with a stem 27, which moves in a guide nut 38, threaded into the upper open top of' the offset portion of the casing. The valves 2G com rol the communication between the central chamber 7 of the base and 110 p,

the respective casing sections l. and 1a.

Pipes 29' and 29a extend from compari 545 detachable valve casings 50 and 50, and

ments l7a into. the vcasing sections l and 1*.

Each lpipe'at its lowei` end is threaded into each cap to close the opening 31, and each of the valves is provided with a stem 33, received in an opening in one end of a lever 34. Each of the levers is pivoted intermedate its ends as indicated at 35, between a pair of brackets 36, extending upwardly from the adjacent cap. A float 37 in the form of a ball or hollow sphere is provided for closing the valves 34, and each float is provided with a stem 38, to which is connected the body 39 of a yoke, by means of a screw 40, or the like. The arms 41 of the yoke engage the outer faces of the brackets .36, and a pivot pin 4Q is passed through the arms of the voke and the brackets to pivotally connect the arms to the bracket. A block 43 is also pivoted on each ot' the pivot pins 42, before mentioned, and a rod 44 is connected with each block. Each oi the rods has one end threaded into an opening in the block and the, other end is passed through a weight 45 in the form ot a block and each block is provided with ay bumper 46 of rubber or the like on the side adjacent to the float, and adapted to engage the float under conditions to be presently set forth.

The block 43 it will be noted is between the arms 41 of the yoke or yoke-shaped lever which supports the Hoat, andthe said block is provided with a transverse pin 47 at its outer corner, the pin extending far enough from the block on each side to engage the upper edges of the arms of the yoke under conditions to be presently mentioned.

Pipes 48 and 48, respectively, extend up-v wardly alongside the casing sections 1 and' 1, adjacent to the pipes Q9 and 29, each pipe 4S. and 48a communicating with the adjacent compartment 7 of the base at its lower end, and it Will be evident that when either valve 34 is open, there will be ii coinmunication between the interior of tie casv ing ,1 or l", as the case may be, and t e pipe 48 or 48. Pipes 49 and 49 are connected with the unions 13 of the respective casing lsections 1 and 1, andthe pipes 48-48- 49-i-49i are connected at their upper ends wlth an air shift valve casing, consisting of heads 51 and 51".

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the casing section 50 is threaded into the adjacent end of the casing section 50, and tliatlboth sections havi` marginal lugs 52, which lap upon each other and are secured together' by bolts and nuts 53. rllie heads 51 and 51 have ports Fri and 5i, rcspee4 tively, the said ports being axial ol' the casing, and the pipe sections 55 and 55* are connected with the ports 54 and 54, respectively.

Each pipe section has an elbow at its lower end. and each elbow is provided with an annular rib 56, near its end, which fits against an externally threaded nipple at the end of the adjacent head. Each pipe registers with the port of the adjacent head, and packing' nuts 57 are threaded on to the nipples for 'holding the pipe sections inplace. Elbows 5S are connected with the upper ends of the pipe sections 55, and each elbow is connected with a lateral nipple 59 ot a casing 60, by means of a pipe section 61, each pipe section engaging the elbow at one end and the nipple 59 at the other.

A cap 62 is threaded on to the lower end of the casing 60, and the casing has a port 63 at its upper end for connection with the air supply pipe not shown. The pipe sections 48h4814l9-i9 may be of any desired length, and each pipe is connected, at its upper end to a shorter section directly engaging the valve casing, by means of a union 64. A piston or valve 65 is mounted for sliding movement in the sectional casing, and the ends of the pistonor valve have heads 66 and 66, for engaging the inner endsof the ports 54 and 54, respectively.

It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. l that the sectional casing is annularly enlarged at its center and that the valve or piston has an annular rib 67 fitting the enlargement and provided with a packing on its peripheral surface suilicientlyl ti ht to hold"the piston or valve in place a ter it has been moved. The casing is also enlarged at its ends, and the heads 66 and 66extend beyond the periphery of the piston or valve intothe enlarged end. The pipes 48 and 48 open into the central enlargement and the pipes 49 and 49 open into the enlar ement at the end. The valve casing is a so provided with exhaust ports 68 between the pipes 48. 48", and the pipes 49 and 49. The valve 65 controls the supply .of air to the pump for operating the sain and the heads 66 and 66 are of rubber fo ming bumpers ior cushioning the movement of the valve in opposite directions. The easing 60 is a scale trap for trapping scale and the like.

Referring to Fig. 5, which is a transverse section of the base between the casing sections 1 and l". it will be noted that inlet pipes 69 and 69A are provided at opposite 'Y sides of the base and between the casing' sections 1 and l". cap-shapcd strainer 70 is threaded on to the upper end of each. ofy

i Y vided by an ordinary air compressor driven in any suitable manner as for instance, by a gasolene engine or other/power, and the compresser stores the air in a tank (not shown), where it is delivered as needed to the pump to operate the same. Preferably anf air Ireducing valve,"as for instance, a Westinghouse valve, is provided for controlling the feed to the shiftingvalve, which in turn supplies it to the pump. Y

The pump is arranged in the source of Water supply as for instance, in a Well or the -into the like, and it will be evident that as ,the Water] enters through the inletpipes 69and 69a the casings 1 and la Will/graduallyill, the water passing from the/ compartments 8 and 8,

past the valve 19, until both of the casings orA cylinders. 1 and la are filled# As the cylinders fill, th/e floats Will be swung upward /po/sition yshown at the right in Fig, 1. l,

, The af# being turned-on, and the shifting valve being in the position shown in Fig.-

1, the/port 54 is closed -fluid tight bythe engaze/xfi/ient of the bumper 66,\vith the inner "en, of 'the seat where the port opens. The

may enter however, bly/way of the port A V54a from the source of supply and entering ythrough the port 54a the air Will pass down through the pipe 49 to the casing 1a. When the floats are lifted as 'shown at the right of Fig. 1, the rod 44adjacent to the ioat Will be moved into tlie position shown, that is, into vertical position, and the valve/34 will be tightly closed n the cap 30.

As Water is drawn off for use, the float 37 will follow the Water down, leaving the blocck 45 and the rod 44"'standing in erect position,

until the arms 41 of the yoke-shaped lever 39-41 strike the pin'47 in the trip block 43. The Weight 45 and the bumper v46 will be over-balanced by this'` engagement With the pin, and the/Weight will take the position shown at the left of Fig. 1 and in Fig. 3,'

opening theport 31 in the cap 30.

' The trip block 43 engages the opposite end of the lever 34 from the Weightthus'lfting the valve." The air in the cylinder 1? mayand Will b e Vadmitted to the cylinderv or cas'-l ing 1. The pressure `of the'air in the cylinders 'causes 4the water to flow vwhen the faucets are open,'and Whenever one cylinder is exhausted to a point Where the port 31 is opened, the air is inunediatelycutolffrori the said cyIndeLandYt-urned on to the other cylindeigsthat the flow of Water will be continuous, flowing/first from onevcylinder ing fromk onepylinder to the place of utiliza- "tionvthe other cylinder is filling. As a cyl-A inder `fills, the air; is clriven-out through the ,.70

pipe'49 or 49al to tho valve casing-SO y agidthen the other. While the 4ivater 'svowf Y and by' way o'f the vent or exhaust portsiS adjacentto th pipe to the atmosphere." It 'will be noted that the piston isgrooved-` annularly near each end as indicated at 71, E

ltofplace the adjacent port 68 in communication with the pipe 49 or 4.9, when the valvev is adjacent to the said pipes' It will be Unai.. "i derstood that the pump cylinders 1-15 may be of any desired height,thus containing anyv desired amount of Water.y The shifting valve 65 is located above the `wvater in the Well or` Vother source of supply and each trip pipe '4S-48* is provided with a vent. orl port 73, near its connection with the casing 5G-,450-

Y for preventing congestion of air in operating the shifting valve. n

It willbe evident that theV large area-of the valve shutting the air ohvfrom the atmosphere is amply vsuliicient to\hold the opposite end firmly against its seat. The suryface exposed to the air pressure at each face f of the rib 6.7 is large enough to overcome any', tendency of the valve to stick, as for instance, at the inner end'of'the end ments'of the #casing It should be borne in'vmind that the ham; meror weightflj does not begin to move Y downward until it is tripped by the engagement of the arms 41 with the'pin 47, and 'y engage the pin to overbalance the- Weight: The valve 32 is not however, moved the Weight falls, that is, `until the Weight is the weight is near the bottom Whenl the arms practically i`n .engagement With the float; At this time' the tripping block 43v engages the end ofthe lever 34 remote from the valve, 'instantly opening. the valve.

The Water passes from the several cylini ders to the'delivery pipe '9, by Way of the valve casings 1.4-24- and 14n-24, The Water raises the valves and passes into the chamber `7 and from thence to lthe delivery pipe. The water however, cannot return to the cylinders. The water will flow from each cylinder -until the porty31 is open,- that through this port and by way of the pipes 29 and 48 to the valve to move the same.

I claim- 1. A device of the characteispeciied, oomthereto, a check valve controlling each-inlet port,.af.eommon delivery Vpipe forthec'ylinl ders, each cylinder havinga port communi! "fi eating with the said pipe, and 'a check. valve i coperating With each portto prevent the return of the Water tothe cylinder, a con- PPSHg/ Pump adapted to be immersed in, Y A i. the water of a source of supply, and 'comi t prisin'g a pair of cylinders, each having an; y inlet port at its bottom for admitting water 115 is, until the air Within the cylinder can pass' port when the valve is at the same'e'nd of the casing, a pipe connecting each outlet port to the top of the adjacent cylinder, said casing having an annular enlargement intermediate its ends andthe valve having an annular rib fitting the enlargement, the opposite faces of the rib being adapted to be acted upon by the fluid under pressure to ,move the valve longitudinally, said casing Y l 'having a plurality of ports at the enlargement and near the ends thereof, a pipe leading from each port to the bottom of the op-` posite cylinder, a valve easing connected `ivith each of the said pipes inthe cylinder fand extending above the bottom of the same, and having an opening at its top, a lever i pivoted to each of the said casings and having a valve for closing the port, a float provided with an arm' pivoted to the casing, a

trip block pivoted to`the casing at the lever, a rod'extending outwardly from the block and having a weight at its outer end, and a cushion on the weight for engaging the float and normally7 resting against the float, said block being arranged to move the lever to close the valve when the lfloat is lifted, and being balanced to stand'with the rod in vertical position when lifted into such position by the float, said lioat arm and block having interengaging means for tripping the block to lower the weight when the float is near the end of its movement downward.

2. A device of the character specified, comprising a pump adapted to be immersed in thefwater of a source of supply, and comprising a pair of cylinders, each having an inlet port at its bottom for admitting water thereto, a. check valve controlling each inlet port, a common delivery pipe for the cylinder. 1,' each cylinder having a port communieating with the said pipe, and a cheek valve coperating with each port to prevent the return of the water to the cylinder, a controlling valve comprising a casing having inlet ports at its ends for connection with a source of fluid under pressure, a valve movable longitudinally of the casing and having resilient heads for engaging the inner ends of the end port-s to close the same, said easing having an outlet port adjacent to each end port, and adapted to be connected with the adjacent end port when the valve is at the opposite end of the casing, and having the cylinder for controlling the said pipe, a

float in each cylinder, means for closing the valve and for holding the valve closed, said means being operated by the float as it moves upward, and means operated bythe float near the end of its downward movement for `releasing the said holding means.

3. A device of the character specified, comprising a pair of casings adapted to be immersed in the source of water supply, each having a cheek controlled inlet port, a Icommon delivery pipe to which the casings are connected. a check valve in each casing for preventing the return of the water from the delivery pipe, a controlling valve for supplying lluid under pressure to the casings for forcing the water through the delivery pipe, said valve comprising a casing having inlet ports at its opposite ends connecti ed with the source of Huid supply, and having an outlet port near each end and adapted to be connected with the adjacent inlet port when the valve is at the opposite end sey of the casing, each outlet port being connected to the top yof the adjacent cylinder, said casing having an annular enlargement intermediate its ends and a valve movable in thc casing and having-heads for closing the ports and having an annular rib moving in the enlargement, the valve Casin having ports at each side of the rib, eac port. being connected to the opposite cylinder near the bottom thereof, a valve in euch of the said casings for controlling the communication thereof with the controlling valve and supported above the bottom of the casing, a valve in connection with each casing, means in each casing for closing the valve and for holding it closed, a float, and means operated by the lloat when it moves upward for actuating the said holdin means to close the valve and hold it close and means operated by the float near the end ot its downward movement for releasing the holding mea ns.

4l. Av device of the character Specified, comprising ay pair of, casings adapted to be immersed in the source ot water supply, cach having a. check controlled iglet port, a common delivery pipe to which the casings are connected, a. check valve in each. casing for preventingthe return ol" the water 'from the delivery pipe, a controlling valve l'or supplying Huid under pressure to the casings for forcing the ivater through the delivery pipe, said valve comprising a casing having inlet ports at its opposite ends connected with the source of fluid supply, and having an outlet port near each end and adapted to be connected with the adjacent inlet port when the valve is at the oppositeend of the casing, each outlet port being con# Water when it attains a predetermined depth for operating the said means to close and to open the valve.

5. A device Aof the character specified, comprising a pluralitj7 of fluid tight compartments, each having inlet and outlet valves, a controlling valve forv supplying iuid under pressure to the'compartments to force the Water therefrom, Huid controlled means for shifting the valve to disconnect l a compartment from the source of fluid pressure supply when the compartment is empty and for connecting the other compartment to thesaid source, a valve in eachv compartment for connecting the said com` partment to the' valve operatingv means, a float in each compartment, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends adjacent to the valve ,and connected at one end to the valve, an'

arm pivoted adjacent to the valve, the float being connected to the arm, a trip block4 for operating the lever to open and close the valve, and a rod connected with the'block and arranged to be engaged bythe float and the arm to Which it 1s connected near the end of the movement of the float and arm in each direction to operate the trip block'to open and close the valve.

6. A device of the 4character specified,

comprising a plurality of Huid tight compartments, each having inlet and outlet valves, a controlling valve for supplying fluid under pressure to the compartments to force the Water therefrom, iuid controlled means for shifting the valve to disconnect a compartment from the source of fluidpressure supply when the' compartment is empty, and tor connecting the other compartlnent to the said source, a valve in each compartment forxconnecting the said compartment to the valve operatlng means, a

oat in each compartment, vand means op- 1 cratcd by the float near the end of its movement in each direction for opening and closing the valve.

' l BENJAMIN S. H. HARRIS. i Witnesses: l

W. ALLEN I-Lumrs, CHAS. M. MCGEE. 

